OREAR, THOMAS BENJAMIN , President of the
Jacksonville National Bank, ex-County Commissioner, Jacksonville, Ill., was born
on his father's farm eight miles east of Jacksonville, January 22, 1839, the son
of George and Sarah (Heslep) Orear. (For ancestral history, see sketches of
William Orear and George Orear in this volume.) He was reared on the farm and
educated in the public schools. Early in life he engaged in the stock business,
continuing to make his home with his father until the death of the latter, and
occupying the paternal homestead until his removal to Jacksonville in 1903. His
transactions in stock have been quite extensive at times, though confined
principally to Morgan County. On September 2, 1862, Mr. Orear was mustered in as
First Lieutenant of Company K, One Hundred and First Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, which he helped to organize, giving his active services to the cause
of the Union until compelled to retire by reason of disability. He participated
with his regiment in the Siege of Vicksburg, where he was prostrated by an
illness which nearly caused his death. After the fall of that Confederate
stronghold he was sent home on a furlough, but rejoined his command thirty days
later at Union city, Tenn. Soon afterward his regiment was assigned to the army
of the Cumberland, and was sent to Chattanooga. But in April, 1864, at the
beginning of the great Atlanta campaign, he was mustered out, his illness having
incapacitated him from further active duty.

Judge Orear has always exhibited a lively interest in the political affairs
of Morgan County, and has accomplished what he could toward the promotion of the
best interests of his community. For two terms he served as County Commissioner,
and for two terms of three years each also was a member of the Jacksonville
School Board, serving in that capacity in 1900, when the new High School
building was erected. In 1892 he became a Director in the Jacksonville National
Bank, and was subsequently elected its Cashier and still later its President. In
1902 Goveror Yates appointed him a member of the Illinois-Vicksburg Commission
(of which he is Treasurer). The Commission has charge of the erection, in the
Vicksburg National Park, of a State monument intended to commemorate the part
borne by the eighty Illinois regiments in the historic campaign against that
city. The contract for the monument has been signed, and the work will be
completed in 1907. The monument will be constructed of granite and bronze, and
will bear the name of every Illinois soldier of the 40,000 who participated in
the memorable event. When complete, the monument will be one of the greatest of
its character in the world, and the most noteworthy thus far erected in America.

Judge Orear is identified with Harmony Lodge, No. 3, A.F.&A.M., and
Hospitaler Commandery, No. 31, K.T., with the Knights of Pythias and the
Benevolent Order of Elks. He was united in marriage January 26, 1904, with
Sallie Browning, of Jacksonville, a native of Lexington, Ky., and a daughter of
Marcus and Angeline (Rees) Browning. Judge Orear is highly esteemed by his
fellow-citizens as a man of high character and generous public spirit, and as
one who is keeping alive the traditions of an old and honored family. (For
sketch of George Orear, see page 983.)